Concealed slide fastener and cloth article containing the same



Dec. 5, 1961 A. J. MCNAMARA CONCEALED SLIDE FASTENER AND CLOTH ARTICLE CONTAINING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1958 Sell V Hm w.

INVENTOR. AMBROSE J. MG NAMARA Cw H. m

ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1961 A. J. MCNAMARA 3,011,238

CONCEALED SLIDE FASTENER AND CLOTH ARTICLE CONTAINING THE SAME Filed Nov. 3. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. AMBROSE J. MC NAMARA "WWW ATTORN EY 3,011,238 CONCEALED SLIDE FASTENER AND CLOTH ARTICLE CONTAINING THE SAME f Ambrose J. McNamara, White Plains, N.Y., assignor to Irving Constant, New York, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 771,494 8 Claims. (Cl. 24-205.1)

The present invention is directed to a concealedslide fastener and cloth article containing the same,-andm ore I particularly to a slide fastener of the concealed type which closely simulates a seam in itsclosed disposition within a cloth article. j

It has long proved desirable to provide a slide fastener which simulates a scam in its closed disposition within a cloth article. To achieve this goal, slide fasteners have been developed in which the slide fastener elements over- United States Patent elements are matingly engaged. The presence of the pull.

tab detracts from the otherwise almost perfect illusion of a simulated seam which the closed slide fastener presents. This invention has as an object the provision of a novel concealed slide fastener comprising a novel slider.

This invention has as another object the provision of a novel cloth article.

This invention has as another object the provision of a slide fastener which in its closed disposition closely simulates a seam, and in which disposition the pull tab of the slide fasteners slider is substantially or entirely concealed from view so that the closed slide fastener presents an almost perfect illusion of a sewn seam.

This invention has as a still further object the provision of a slider whose pull tab may be substantially or en: tirely concealed from view and yet whose pull tab functions substantially as efiiciently as conventional pull tabs FIGURE .6 is a side elevational view of the slider of FIGURE 5 revealing the relationship between such slider and elements of the slide fastener of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of theslider of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational vlew of'the slider of FIGURE 8 revealing its relationship to elements of they slide fastener of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 Q of FIGURE 9. I A

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGURES 1 through 4, FIGURE 1 reveals the slide fastener designated generally as 10. Slide fastener 10 comprises a pair of slide fastener element-carrying tapes 12 on which are carried the mating slide fastenerelements 14. The slide fastener elements 14 are engaged and disengagedby the action of the slider 16. g V v The slide fastener elements 14 are preferably those disclosed in my copending patent application Serial No.

761,027 filed September 15, 1958 entitled: Slide Fastener.-

Such elements 14 may be formed of metal, or may be formed of plastic, such as nylon. Each slide fastener element 14 comprises a clamping jaw portion 18 within which the innermost portion 20 of the supporting tape 12 is received. I have found that by forming the clamping jaw portion 18 in the manner indicated in the drawings, namely as the slot 22, which istangularly disposed to the flat back 24, the use of a welted or beaded edge on the tape 12 for anchorage purposes can be avoided. However, the slide fasteners of the present invention comprise constructions, such as those of the embodiments of FIGURESb through 10, in which the elements include a clamping jaw portion which is constructed to receive atape having a welted or beaded edge, such elements which areexposed to the viewer in the closed disposition shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred;

it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited tothe precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. I Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refertolikeparts:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of'the slide fastener of the present invention, with thepull tab being shown in above-mentioned Patent 2,738,560. The

of the shank 26 and a projection on the other surface of the shank 26. The engagement between the cup 28 of oneslidefastener element and the projection of the next adjacent mating slide fastener element is shown in FIG- URE 1, and the use of any of the wide variety of projections and cups known to those skilled in the art is contemplated in the slide fastener elements of the slide fastener of the present invention.

The slide fastener elements 14 areprovided with laterally projecting sides 30 for engagement withthe mating adjacent flanks 32 of the slider 16.- Each of such sides 30 does not extend to the back 24 of theslide fastener element 14, but instead, the back end 3-4 of each side 30 is spaced from the back 24 by the intermediate step- 35, such step -.35 having a' height appreciably greater than the maximum thickness of the free edge portion of the slider 16; The provision of the step 35 ensures that engagement between the free edge portion 36 of theslider 16 of the shown in full line in exposed disposition, andthe pull 1 ment of the slider of the slidefastener of the'present I invention.

tape will be avoided because notwithstandingflflexing of the tape 12 and bending'ther'eof in respectto the back 24, the freeedge portion 36 of the slider 16 is spaced a sufficient distance from the tape 12 by the step 35 to avoid engagement. t

- The slider 16 of the present invention is shown particularlyin FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 and comprisesthe tion that the slider 16 have a thin pull tab 40, as the same is to be as inconspicuous as possible." In the illus- 40 is approximately equal to the length of the slider 16.

In any event, the length of the pull tab 40 should be suflicient so that a finger grip may be secured on the Patented Dec. 5,1961.

pull tab 40 enabling the same to be grasped by the fingers of the user, notwithstanding the thinness of such pull tab 4%).

, The pull tab 40 is pivotably secured on the cross pin 42 which is carried within the diamond 38. A slot 44 of uniform Width is disposed along the center of diamond 38 within which the pull tab 40 is received. The pull tab 40 has a uniform width along its entire length which in the illustrated embodiment comprises just somewhat'less than the width of slot 44. v

The pull tab 40 may be pivoted within slot 44 about cross pin 42 from a disposition in which the pull tab 49 is substantially disposed along the central axis of the slider 16 beyond the topmost part of the slider 16 (shown in 'FIGURE'Z in'full line) to a position'i'n which the pull tab' 45 is superposed above the slider 16 (shown in FIGURE 2 in full line) to a position in which the pull tab 45) is superposed above the slider 16 (shown in phantom line in FIGURE 2). The slot 44 serves to guide the pull tab 40 through its aforesaid pivotation and prevents lateral shifting of the pull tab 40.

The diamond 38 is provided with laterally projecting Wings 45. The wings 45 project laterally above the walls of the diamond 38, and serve to guide the elements 1 4 of the slide fastener intermediate such wings and theback 47 of the slider 16.

Asseen particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the cross pin 42 is positioned about halfway between the wings 45 and the back 47, namely about halfway up the walls of the diamond 38. By so positioning the cross pin 42 any thrust on the pull tab 4-8 does not cant or cock the slider 16 in respect to the elements 14. This is most important, since canting or, cocking of the slider 16 in respect to the elements 14 would impede the movement of the slider 16 on the slide fastener 10. Furthermore, canting or cocking of the slider 16 would lead to engagement between the slider 16 and the cloth members of the cloth article on which the slide fastener 10 is mounted.

If desired, the pull tab 40 may be provided with the detent 46 for locking the engaged elements 14 of the slide fastener. Y

The disposition of the slide fastener 10' on the cloth article 48 is shown in FIGURE 1. The cloth article 48 comprises a pair of members 50 and 52, each of which consists of a pairof overlapped flaps, namely the relatively large outer flap 54 and the relatively small inner flap 56 of cloth member 50, and the relatively large outer flap 58 and the relatively small inner flap 60 of cloth member 52. The abutting line intermediate the cloth members 50 and 52 resembles a seam when the slide fastener 10 is in its closed disposition with its elements engaged with each other.

The tapes 12 and 12 of the slide fastener 10 are secured by respective lines of stitching 62 and 64 to the relatively small inner flaps 56 and 6!) of the cloth members 50 and 52. The lines of stitching 62 and 64 are positioned closely adjacent the slide fastener elements 14 on the tapes 12 and are at the fold lines which define the flaps 54 and 56 of cloth member 58 and 58 and 60 of clothmember 52.

When the slide fastener 11) is in its closed disposition, the pull tab '40 is disposed in the phantom line, disposition shown in FIGURE 1 intermediate the cloth members 50 and 52. In this disposition the pull tab 40 'is substantially concealed and does not destroy the illusion of r a sewn seam presented by the closed slide fastener 18.

In order to open the slide fastener 10 itis only neces sary to pry up the pull tab 4-8 with the users fingernail and to pull on the pull tab 40.

FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, and FIGURES 8, 9, and 10 reveal slider embodiments intended for use with elements of the type disclosed in aforementioned United States Letters Patent 2,738,560 which are carried on welted tapes.

Referring to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 the slider 70 comprises the back 72 having the flanks 74.

The diamond 76 is provided with wings 78 which guide the elements 14a. Slot 80 runs the entire length of diamond 76 and is of uniform width throughout its length. The pull tab 82 is received within the slot 80, such pull ticularly at FIGURE'6, the curvature of the pull tab 82 is such that when the same is pivoted to the disposition shown at the left side of FIGURE 6, the pull tab 82 projects substantially perpendicularly to the back 72 with its knobs 86 uppermost. 82 is advantageous, since it permits the pull tab 82 to be substantially concealed when the same is pivoted downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 6, in the direction of the arrow. 7

As seen in FIGURE 6, the slot 80 extends through both the diamond 76 and back 72 in the upper portion of slider 70. The slot 80 guides the pull tab 82 during its pivotation, preventing it from shifting laterally.

The cross pin 84 on which the pull tab 82 is pivoted is positioned midway along the height of the walls of the diamond 76 bet-ween the wings 78 and the back'72. Thus, the cross pin 84 is disposed midway of the height of the elements 14a when the slider 70 is engaged with such elements 14a. By positioning cross pin 84 midway along the height of the elements 14a, canting or cocking of the slider 70 is prevented when thrust is applied to the pull tab 82.

V The slider 90 shown in FIGURES 8, 9, and 10 generally resembles'the slider 70 except that in place of the pull tab 82, the slider 90 is provided with the pull tab 92. Thus, the pull tab 82 is formed from sheet metal having a perforation through which the cross pin 84 is received. The pull tab 92 is formed from a rod or wire whose ends 94 and 96 are looped. The end 94 comprises the free end of pull tab 92 which is grasped by the fingers of the user. The end 96 is looped about the cross pin 98 on which the pull tab 92 pivots. The cross pin 98 may be formed in an identical manner as the cross pin 84, and is positioned midway between the wings 78a and the back 72a of slider 90.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended. claims, rather than to the'foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A slider for a slide fastener comprising a diamond having a pair of spaced laterally extending wings, a back connected to said diamond and having curved flangs, there being a slot in said diamond between said wings, said slot extending along the longitudinal axis of said diamond for the entire length of saiddiamond, said slot extending from the top of said diamond toward said back and having a depth greater than one-half the height of said diamond, and an elongated thin pull tab having one end pivotably mounted in said slot at a point midway up the height of said diamond, said pull tab beingthinner than said slot and lying in a plane which is substantially coincident with the plane of said slot.

2. A slider fastener comprising a pair of element carry- The curvature of pull tab said diamond for the entire length of said diamond, said slot extending from the topof said diamond toward said back and having a depth greater than one-half the height of said diamond, and an elongated thin pull tab having one end pivotably mounted in said slot midway up the height of said diamond, said pull tab being thinner than said slot and lying in a plane which is substantially coincident with the plane of said slot.

3. A slider in accordance with claim 1 in which the pull tab comprises a straight thin element.

4. A slider in accordance with claim 1 in which the pull tab comprises a curved element.

5. A slider in accordance with claim 1 in which the pull tab is formed from a wire having a circular crosssection.

6. A slider in accordance with claim 1 in which the pull tab is pivotably mounted on a cross pin which extends across the slot perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

7. A cloth article comprising a pair of overlapped cloth members, each of said cloth members comprising a relatively large outside flap and a relatively small inside fiap, with the fold lines of the cloth article defining said flaps being adjacent each other, a slide fastener comprising a pair of element carrying tapes, one of said tapes being secured tothe relatively small inside fiap of one cloth member and the other of said tapes being secured to the relatively small inside flap of the other cloth member, with each of said tapes being joined to its flap by a line of stitching closely adjacent to the elements carried by the tape, the mating elements of the two tapes spanning the gap between the cloth members 6 its elements mating, with said slider comprising a diamond, a back, and flanks, there being a longitudinal slot in the top of said diamond, extending along the entire length of said diamond, said slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the slider, and an elongated thin pull tab pivotably mounted on said diamond midway up the height of said diamond, said pull tab being pivotably mounted in said slot and having a pivotable range of when the slide fastener is in its closed disposition, the

substantially degrees, with said pull tab being pivotable between a disposition wherein the longitudinal axis- .said slot and a disposition wherein the longitudinal axis of said pull tab is perpendicular to the axis of said slot, with substantially the entire length of pull tab being disposed intermediate the cloth members when it is disposed in its former disposition, the fold lines of the cloth article closely simulating a seam when the slide fastener is in its closed disposition with the pull tab disposed intermediate the cloth members, with the slider of the slide fastener being provided with laterally projecting wings on the top of the diamond.

8. A cloth article in accordance with claim 7 in which the pull tab is mounted on a cross pin which extends perpendicularly across the longitudinal axis of the slider.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,823,913 Pietsch Sept. 22, l931 2,270,782 Gilmore Jan. 20, 1942 2,738,560 Hug Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,777 Australia May 10, 1955 

